University of Alabama-Huntsville survives for 2-2 tie with Minnesota State

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- In one of the most exciting UAH hockey games in recent memory, the Chargers held off a furious Minnesota State attack for a 2-2 tie tonight.

The Mavericks of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association trailed 2-1 with a little more than 2 minutes left in regulation when Eriah Hayes scored through a crowd of players in front of UAH goalie John Griggs.

There was no scoring in the five-minute overtime.

Minnesota State fired 53 shots on the UAH net while the Chargers had 24.

"We played our hearts out," said UAH head coach Kurt Kleinendorst. "The penalty killers did a great job and (Griggs) did a great job.

"We bent but we didn't break."

Griggs, who faced more than 80 shots over the two-game weekend, echoed his coach's remarks - sort of.

"The guys played their butts off," he said. "They kept the shots on the perimeter. It's always easy to see the shots outside."

Curtis deBruyn got the Chargers off on the right foot with his goal from the point at 5:53 of the first period.

The senior forward said he was disappointed in the outcome but the team can draw from it.

"It's a tough pill to swallow," he said. "We had them against the ropes but we weren't able to finish them off."

The Chargers killed off all seven of their penalties which deBruyn saw as a positive and as a negative.

"It's great that we killed them off," the Chargers' captain said. "Guys stepped up.

"But, we also have to keep out of the box."

The Mavericks tied the game early in the second period on Johnny McInnis' goal but the Chargers regained the lead about two minutes later when Craig Pierce stuck the puck in the corner of the net, just over Stephon Williams' right shoulder.

Minnesota State then pressed hard in the final period, eventually tying the game when Hayes' shot was deflected over Griggs.

Despite a winless weekend, Kleinendorst said he found some good things with his team.

"I'm OK with it," he said. "This was our first real test. There are a lot of good things going on."